Surgical retractor system

Abstract

An apparatus includes a substantially pliable sheet-like member, a surgical retractor, and a substantially elastic coupling extending between the sheet-like member and the retractor. A method for expanding a surgical cavity in a patient includes positioning the patient on a substantially pliable sheet-like member, positioning a surgical retractor in the cavity, extending a substantially elastic coupling between the sheet-like member and the retractor, and tensioning the coupling.

1. An apparatus, comprising:
 a substantially pliable sheet-like member including a first perimeter side, further including a plurality of first attachment sites spaced along the first perimeter side and defining a plurality of apertures, further including a second perimeter side opposing the first perimeter side, and further including a plurality of second attachment sites spaced along the second perimeter side;  
 a first surgical retractor defining an aperture;  
 a first substantially elastic coupling extending between one of the first attachment sites and the first surgical retractor, the first coupling including an elastic member including a first portion and a second portion, the first coupling further including a catch member engaged with the first portion of the elastic member, the first coupling further including a first fastener extending from the catch member through the aperture defined by the first retractor, and the first coupling further including a second fastener extending from the second portion of the elastic member through at least one of the apertures defined by plurality of first attachment sites;  
 a second surgical retractor; and  
 a second substantially elastic coupling extending between one of the second attachment sites and the second surgical retractor;  
 wherein the plurality of first attachment sites and the opposing plurality of second attachment sites facilitate varying a direction of a respective pulling force applied by each surgical retractor.  
 
   
   
     2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures includes a row of loops. 
   
   
     3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second fastener includes a hook. 
   
   
     4. An apparatus, comprising:
 a substantially pliable sheet-like member including a first perimeter side, further including a plurality of first attachment sites spaced along the first perimeter side, further including a second perimeter side opposing the first perimeter side, and further including a plurality of second attachment sites spaced along the second perimeter side;  
 a first surgical retractor defining an aperture;  
 a first substantially elastic coupling extending between one of the first attachment sites and the first surgical retractor, the first coupling including an elastic member including a first portion and a second portion, the first coupling further including a catch member engaged with the first portion of the elastic member, the first coupling further including a first fastener extending from the catch member through the aperture defined by the first retractor;  
 a second surgical retractor; and  
 a second substantially elastic coupling extending between one of the second attachment sites and the second surgical retractor;  
 wherein the plurality of first attachment sites defines an oblong aperture, the first coupling further includes a second fastener extending through the oblong aperture, and the plurality of first attachment sites and the opposing plurality of second attachment sites facilitate varying a direction of a respective pulling force applied by each surgical retractor.  
 
   
   
     5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the second fastener includes a hook. 
   
   
     6. An apparatus, comprising:
 a substantially pliable sheet-like member including a first perimeter side, further including a plurality of first attachment sites spaced along the first perimeter side, further including a second perimeter side opposing the first perimeter side, and further including a plurality of second attachment sites spaced along the second perimeter side;  
 a first surgical retractor defining an aperture;  
 a first substantially elastic coupling extending between one of the first attachment sites and the first surgical retractor, the first coupling including an elastic member including a first portion and a second portion, the first coupling further including a catch member engaged with the first portion of the elastic member, the first coupling further including a first fastener extending from the catch member through the aperture defined by the first retractor; and the first coupling further including a pincer that grasps the sheet-like member;  
 a second surgical retractor; and  
 a second substantially elastic coupling extending between one of the second attachment sites and the second surgical retractor;  
 wherein the plurality of first attachment sites and the opposing plurality of second attachment sites facilitate varying a direction of a respective pulling force applied by each surgical retractor.  
 
   
   
     7. An apparatus, comprising:
 a substantially pliable sheet-like member including a first perimeter side, further including a plurality of first attachment sites spaced along the first perimeter side, further including a second perimeter side opposing the first perimeter side, and further including a plurality of second attachment sites spaced along the second perimeter side;  
 a first surgical retractor defining an aperture;  
 a first substantially elastic coupling extending between one of the first attachment sites and the first surgical retractor, the first coupling including an elastic member including a first portion and a second portion, the first coupling further including a catch member engaged with the first portion of the elastic member, the first coupling further including a first hook extending from the catch member through the aperture defined by the first retractor;  
 a second surgical retractor; and  
 a second substantially elastic coupling extending between one of the second attachment sites and the second surgical retractor;  
 wherein the catch member defines a channel having a generally U-shaped cross-section, the first portion of the elastic member is positioned in the channel, the plurality of first attachment sites includes a row of loops, the first coupling further includes a second hook extending from the second portion of the elastic member through at least one of the loops, and the plurality of first attachment sites and the opposing plurality of second attachment sites facilitate varying a direction of a respective pulling force applied by each surgical retractor.  
 
   
   
     8. A method for expanding a surgical cavity in a patient having a body and a head, the body including a chest, an abdomen, and an upper thigh, the method comprising the steps of:
 positioning the body of the patient on a substantially pliable sheet-like member;  
 positioning a surgical retractor in the cavity;  
 extending a substantially elastic coupling between the sheet-like member and the retractor; and  
 tensioning the coupling.  
 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of positioning the body includes positioning the upper thigh on the substantially pliable sheet-like member. 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of positioning the surgical retractor in the cavity includes positioning the surgical retractor in at least one of the chest and the abdomen.